Dürkopp Fördertechnik – MHW Magazinehttps://mhwmagazine.co.uk
News and stories from the Materials Handling IndustryFri, 01 Nov 2019 06:43:11 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.3102933725KNAPP showcases new solutions at IMHX 2019https://mhwmagazine.co.uk/knapp-showcases-new-solutions-at-imhx-2019.html
Mon, 07 Oct 2019 14:14:35 +0000https://mhwmagazine.co.uk/?p=75470Global warehouse automation provider, KNAPP, received considerable interest from visitors in its latest solutions at IMHX 2019. The company exhibited its brand-new fulfilment workstation, Pick-it-Easy Evo, for the first time in the UK and also demonstrated its award-winning, AI-enabled redPILOT software. “The four days at the NEC were productive for the KNAPP team,” commented Craig …

Global warehouse automation provider, KNAPP, received considerable interest from visitors in its latest solutions at IMHX 2019. The company exhibited its brand-new fulfilment workstation, Pick-it-Easy Evo, for the first time in the UK and also demonstrated its award-winning, AI-enabled redPILOT software.

“The four days at the NEC were productive for the KNAPP team,” commented Craig Rollason, Managing Director for KNAPP UK. “As well as welcoming a number of prospective clients on our stand, we had very positive meetings with existing customers, suppliers and associates.” Promoting its technologies for automated handling, storage and order fulfilment, the KNAPP team was joined on the stand by colleagues from sister company, Dürkopp Fördertechnik, which has expertise in garment logistics.

Ergonomic and error-free picking

Developed with experience from over 1000 workstations from its Pick-it-Easy series delivered around the world to date, KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Evo combines ergonomic design with intuitive operation to enable warehouse staff to work smart, not hard.

A multitude of functions can be performed with Pick-it-Easy Evo – from standard processes such as picking, decanting, consolidation and returns handling, to customer-specific operations. The new workstation is designed to handle a broad range of goods – containers, trays and cartons in various dimensions, with loads of up to 50 kg – while minimizing strain on workers by reducing stretching, stooping and lifting.

Pick-it-Easy Evo embodies KNAPP’s zero defect philosophy. LED displays and touch screens combine with KNAPP’s intuitive easyUse interface to ensure error-free, rapid and efficient processes, as well as shorter training time for new personnel. Additional quality assurance equipment is also available – including light curtains, scales, scanners and image recognition technology for photo documentation.

Developed to work in synergy with KNAPP’s OSR Shuttle Evo automated storage system, the Pick-it-Easy Evo can either have a traditional connection to the store through a pre-zone or it can be connected directly to the OSR Shuttle in order to save space.

AI-enabled software optimizes logistics

Developed by redPILOT GmbH – a start-up company within the KNAPP group – redPILOT software is designed to optimize warehouse logistics, with all experience gained being used for machine learning. The solution helps warehouse operators to use all available resources – such as systems, personnel, energy, space and materials – dynamically and intelligently in order to optimize performance in a context of constantly changing factors such as order structure, delivery dates and store optimizations. The machine learning enables bottlenecks to be eliminated and operations to be fully optimized over time.

The redPILOT solution can be seamlessly integrated into a client’s application regardless of which WMS, WCS or WES is in place, either being hosted as a cloud service or provided into the client’s existing hardware infrastructure. KNAPP’s KiSoft logistics software platform manages all processes – from goods-in to goods-out – and flexibly integrates various technologies.

KNAPP’s redPILOT software won the award for Best IT Innovation at the 2019 Material Handling Industry (MHI) Innovation Awards at ProMat in Chicago earlier this year. The solution has been commissioned at 47 logistics sites worldwide for customers in diverse industry sectors – including seven sites of the German supermarket chain, EDEKA.

KNAPP continues on growth trajectory

KNAPP AG’s order volume topped one billion euros for the first time in the company’s history in the business year 2018-2019. Net turnover rose by 34.5% to 954 million euros and profits were also up by an impressive 44.2%, with an EBIT of 65.2 million euros.

Headquartered in Graz, Austria, the KNAPP group now employs more than 4,500 staff worldwide, an increase of 50% since 2016. The group’s British subsidiary, KNAPP UK, has also grown considerably in the last three years. “Our headcount now stands at 230,” said Craig Rollason, Managing Director of KNAPP UK, “compared to 185 in 2016, and this total is projected to rise to over 290 next year.”

Craig Rollason, Managing Director of KNAPP UK

In the last financial year KNAPP, which has 41 locations around the world, invested over 43 million euros in buildings and facilities, and a further 48 million in R&D – an increase of 25%. The company’s sites in Leoben and Dobl (Austria) were both extended and its capacity in Poland, Slovenia and Croatia – among other locations – was expanded. In addition, a new headquarters building is planned for the US, one of KNAPP’s fastest-growing markets. The company’s US subsidiary is currently installing one of the largest systems ever delivered by KNAPP – for Digi-Key Electronics at Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The new facility has been designed with capacity to store 1.66 million SKUs using KNAPP’s OSR Shuttle Evo technology, with over 1000 shuttles being deployed to support goods-to-person order fulfilment.

KNAPP UK is currently installing intralogistics systems for Shop Direct in the retailer’s new, automated distribution centre at East Midlands Gateway. “This is one of the largest orders ever for KNAPP UK and delivery is progressing well,” commented Craig Rollason, “with go-live planned for early in 2020.” Other recent projects for KNAPP UK have included extensions or upgrades for John Lewis, M&S (Bradford), Alliance Healthcare, Well, Clarks and Phoenix Healthcare, as well as new projects for IKEA, M&S (Welham Green) and Debenhams.

]]>75470Dürkopp Fördertechnik equipment key role at new award winning Sainsbury DChttps://mhwmagazine.co.uk/durkopp-fordertechnik-equipment-key-role-at-new-award-winning-sainsbury-dc.html
Thu, 01 Nov 2018 16:45:39 +0000https://mhwmagazine.co.uk/?p=71035The position of Dürkopp Fördertechnik as European and UK market leaders in warehouse E- Commerce automation and sortation has been reinforced at the 2018 Logistics Awards where the company helped Sainsbury’s win the category for new facilities over 150,000 sq. ft. Durkopp’s Rolladapter and Pocket Sorter systems were installed in Sainsbury’s main UK distribution centre …

The position of Dürkopp Fördertechnik as European and UK market leaders in warehouse E- Commerce automation and sortation has been reinforced at the 2018 Logistics Awards where the company helped Sainsbury’s win the category for new facilities over 150,000 sq. ft.

Durkopp’s Rolladapter and Pocket Sorter systems were installed in Sainsbury’s main UK distribution centre at Bedford where the firm put in some 400,000 sq.ft. of multilevel storage. Now complete, the new system is capable of sending up to 3.3 million garments per week to both, online customers and stores in perfect order sequence. Goods on hangers are processed on the Rolladapter, while the Pocket Sorter handles flat goods.

Sainsbury’s identified a build sequence that allowed for the installation of 400,000 sq. ft. of multileveled storage, a major mezzanine floor installation and the installation of three new sorters, pack benches, induction stations and associated equipment whilst working around the existing operation.

Once the storage was in, combined teams from both Dürkopp and Sainsbury’s then commenced work on installing the three new hybrid adapter/pocket sorters.

Annette Sommer, UK General Manager for Dürkopp Fördertechnik, said: “I am delighted we were involved with this ground-breaking project, and winning a leading industry award against strong competition is an added bonus.”

The integration of Dürkopp Fördertechnik into the Knapp Group has also enabled the business to offer a complete integrated package of automation with the Knapp OSR and other cutting edge Knapp products.

“We are delighted to welcome Nathan, Tyrone and Phil to our board,” commented Craig Rollason, Managing Director. “Between them, they have clocked up 24 years’ service at KNAPP UK, so they bring a wealth of experience to the boardroom.”

David James (Director, Subsidiary Management for KNAPP AG) and Ebb Kretschmer (Director, Global Resident Business Solutions for KNAPP AG) – who were both previously on the board – have stepped down to focus on their global roles within the KNAPP group. “David and Ebb have made invaluable contributions to the growth of KNAPP in the UK market since they joined the company in 2006 and 2007 respectively,” explained Craig Rollason, “but their appointment to roles with a worldwide focus for our parent company, KNAPP AG, within the last few years has inevitably reduced their day-to-day operational involvement with KNAPP UK. Both of them had the foresight to suggest that the board should, in time, comprise directors who were exclusively focused on KNAPP UK’s business operation and development. The composition of the new board has their full support, as well as that of the Executive Board of KNAPP AG.”

Blue-chip brands

KNAPP UK, which celebrates 21 years of operation in the UK market this year, has enjoyed phenomenal growth in recent years. The company has delivered logistics automation solutions and software to blue-chip brands that include John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Amazon, Staples, Clarks, British Gas, Alliance Healthcare, Boden, Primark, Kuehne + Nagel and Draper Tools. The company’s ability to combine its expertise in the automated handling of unit loads with hanging garment systems – through the technology of KNAPP group member, Dürkopp Fördertechnik – has made KNAPP UK a magnet for many top retail brands in response to the challenges of multi-channel logistics.

Business buoyant

With a strong pipeline of orders, KNAPP UK has steadily recruited more staff and now employs 210 people. “We have built a reputation for delivering solutions that are efficient, flexible and robust,” said Craig Rollason, “giving our clients a competitive edge in the supply chain. Another critical factor in securing a number of prestigious projects recently has been our Customer Service offer. Many of the larger systems we have delivered are supported by an on-site team of KNAPP Customer Service technicians who carry out preventative maintenance as well as dealing swiftly with any operational issues that may arise.”

]]>69850KNAPP installs second pocket sorter solution for ASOShttps://mhwmagazine.co.uk/knapp-installs-second-pocket-sorter-solution-for-asos.html
Thu, 03 May 2018 08:15:37 +0000https://mhwmagazine.co.uk/?p=68612KNAPP is supplying its pocket sorter technology at the Berlin distribution centre of leading online fashion retailer, ASOS. This follows successful use of the pocket sortation system – engineered by KNAPP subsidiary, Dürkopp Fördertechnik – at the UK distribution centre of ASOS in Barnsley. The heart of KNAPP’s e-commerce solution for the Berlin DC is …

KNAPP is supplying its pocket sorter technology at the Berlin distribution centre of leading online fashion retailer, ASOS. This follows successful use of the pocket sortation system – engineered by KNAPP subsidiary, Dürkopp Fördertechnik – at the UK distribution centre of ASOS in Barnsley.

The heart of KNAPP’s e-commerce solution for the Berlin DC is an OSR ShuttleTM store, which ensures both the flexibility required by the frequently changing article range and error-free picking at the Pick-it-Easy workstations. KNAPP handles the task of sortation by using transport pockets combined with a hanging goods system. Perfect for the ASOS product range, each pocket has space for all the items that would fit into a shopping bag.

Matrix sortation

The pocket sorter system uses a unique algorithm to sort randomly picked items into an exact sequence. Flat-packed and hanging goods are consolidated at one of 200 packing stations in the precise sequence needed for dispatch. Explained Heimo Robosch, Executive Vice President of KNAPP AG, “At the pack stations, we only provide the items that belong to one individual customer order for picking from the pockets. The next order then arrives once the previous pack order has been completed. The streamlining of all processes results in a reduction in costs as well as an optimized transit time, both crucial to e-commerce businesses.”

Proven at Barnsley DC

Dürkopp Fördertechnik delivered a pocket sorter solution to ASOS in the UK at its DC in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, back in 2014. Initially designed with three modules, the system was increased to four modules during 2016. A fifth module has recently been installed, increasing the overall performance to 30,000 items per hour, and the system will be further expanded by the addition of a dynamic buffer this year to allow the fully automatic storage and retrieval of about 80,000 single items.

Growth in fashion and lifestyle

The continuing e-commerce boom is paying dividends for KNAPP – online commerce is showing extremely strong growth across all areas, accounting for more than 70 per cent in certain sectors. KNAPP is also recording very strong growth in fashion and lifestyle. In collaboration with its German subsidiary, Dürkopp Fördertechnik, KNAPP is concentrating on solutions that make extremely high throughput and strict sequences possible.

An automated garment conveying system supplied and installed by Dürkopp Fördertechnik – part of the KNAPP Group – is helping John Lewis service its continuing omni-channel growth. The system is operating at John Lewis’s new 675,000 sq ft Magna Park 2 distribution centre at Milton Keynes which has 71 dock doors, 141 HGV parking spaces and is linked to Magna Park 1 by a 96 metre bridge.

Magna Park 2 – which alone could accommodate more than 9,000 double-decker buses – features Dürkopp’s “trolley-less” conveyor technology whereby the hangers are carried directly on the conveyor, which enables both single items and blocks of garments to be transported on the same system.

The receiving area also features telescopic booms that can extend up to 10 metres for vehicle unloading. Three scanning systems – each capable of processing 3,000 items an hour – handle all the incoming merchandise.

The hanging garment storage area has six levels, divided into static and dynamic sections with the static storage area – which uses the Dürkopp “trolley-less” system – having the capacity to store 1.4 million items. The dynamic storage area has 126 buffers and uses Dürkopp’s RFID controlled Rolladapter technology where every garment carries unique product information in real time for tracking, picking and sorting. The Rolladapter technology allows the use of a wide range of plastic or metal hangers and can carry some 380,000 items with a rotation capacity per buffer of around 7,000 items per hour.

The Rolladapter system is also in use in the fully automated garment sortation area which features two automatic labeling systems and can handle up to 5,000 items an hour. The 3-stage sequence sorter ensures that batch picked product is delivered in a store friendly sequence to the John Lewis branches whilst e-commerce items are transported to the packing benches in exact order sequence for online delivery.

Annette Sommer, General Manager UK at Dürkopp Fördertechnik, commented: “We are delighted that our proven technology means that – for the first time – John Lewis can process hanging garments at its Magna Park campus and consolidate hanging garments with other goods for both store replenishment and online orders. The fully automated system ensures all goods are quickly sorted into the correct order for dispatch to stores or direct to the consumer.”

“The ability to consolidate goods in this way is crucial for the business,” explained John Munnelly, Head of Operations at the Magna Park Campus, “because some 40% of fashion orders include what we call ‘binnable’ items – those stored in totes – such as shoes and accessories.” The consolidation of orders between MP1 and MP2 is reducing the total number of orders, which results in a significant saving in transport costs.